Pennsylvania Health Department: Flu 'Widespread'

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Pennsylvania Department of Health says flu is now "widespread" throughout the state and things are likely only going to get worse because the season typically doesn't peak until the middle of this month or February.

There have been more than 11,000 laboratory confirmed flu cases in the state since the flu season began in mid-December, with nearly 4,300 of those reported last week alone.

The department's flu-tracking website (www.flufreepa.com ) says "widespread" is the highest category for tracking the virus. That means there have been outbreaks or increases in flu-like or "laboratory-confirmed influenza in at least half the regions of the state with recent laboratory evidence of influenza in the state."

So far, 971 flu-related hospitalizations and 22 deaths have been reported during the flu season.